Outdoor Climbing

The Club runs climbing trips out of Oxford on the weekends of every term. These will be either day meets, where we head to a relatively nearby crag, or weekend meets, taking up the whole weekend and allowing us to visit the more far flung corners of the country. The plans for the coming term are laid out on the termcard. We try and visit a wide range of climbing destinations across the country every year.

Spaces on outdoor meets are limited by the number of minibus and car seats we have available. To sign up and pay, you'll need to come to the Gardeners Arms the Wednesday before the meet. Your place on the meet is not guaranteed until you have paid! If you can't get to Gardeners Arms but want to go on that weekend's meet, email the Meets Secretaries and they may be able to help.

If you are wondering what you will need to take with you, have a look at our recommended kit list. We can't guarantee good weather on meets, so you need to be properly prepared for it to be cold and wet!

Climbing partnerships or groups will be organised on the way to the crag or when we arrive. If you're keen to climb a particular grade, want to climb with somebody more experienced or think you're being forgotten, please speak up!

Day Meets

8am Start

The minibus leaves the Keble Road pick-up point at 8am sharp.

Mid-journey break

We generally stop off on route at a service station for a mid-journey break.

Full day's climbing

Once we are at the crag, we'll stay there all day to maximize the amount of climbing.

Head home

When it gets dark, or when everyone agrees it's time to leave (e.g. the rock is melting because of the rain), we get back in the minibus and head for Oxford.

Evening meal

A stop on the way back often provides a good time to grab something to eat.

Return late

Depending on the time of year (and the traffic!) we tend to arrive back in Oxford sometime between 10 o'clock and midnight.

Weekend Meets

Friday 6pm

The minibus leaves the Keble Road pick-up point at 6pm sharp.

Mid-journey break

We generally stop off on route at a motorway service station for dinner.

Arrive late

It will be fairly late when we arrive at our destination. The first priority is to get our tents up, but we will often head over to the pub for some warmth if there is time.

Saturday: early start

Saturday morning, we will head straight to the climbing: there will be no time to buy coffee!

Full day's climbing

Once we are at the crag, we'll stay there all day.

Pub dinner

At the end of the day, we'll head to a pub for something to eat.

Sunday: early start

On Sunday morning we'll have to pack up the tents before heading to the crag.

Full day's climbing

Again, we will stay at the climbing venue all day.

Head home

Late afternoon, everything goes back in the minibus and we set off home, the exact time depending on the time of year.

Evening meal

A general concensus will be reached as to what to do for dinner.

Return late

As for day meets, we tend to arrive back in Oxford sometime between 10 o'clock and midnight.

What if it rains? you may ask. Well, we get wet. Bring waterproofs! Some masochistic people insist on climbing in the rain. You need not join them; popular alternatives are to go walking, find a local indoor climbing wall, or see if the pubs are open yet.

Most meets involve camping, often arriving at the campsite late on Friday night so it is advisable to have a head-torch to hand! Please bring a sleeping bag and rollmat as the Club has none to borrow. Many of our members have their own tents and tent-space is usually organised at the sign-up on Wednesday evening. For North Wales meets, however, we generally try and get a hut, although sleeping bags and rollmats will still be required!

For weekend meets, you will also need to bring breakfast and lunch (or just snacks) for Saturday and Sunday: there may not be an opportunity to purchase much food once we leave Oxford. A stove is usually unnecessary; dinner on Saturday evening will generally be bought in a pub. Please make sure you have sufficient cash for the weekend as cash machines can be hard to find in climbing venues.

For day meets there is obviously no need to bring camping equipment, but please make sure you have sufficient food to keep yourself going for the whole the day. Dinner will usually be in a pub or cafe on the way home.

On all meets you'll need to make sure that you have the appropriate clothing with you and the Club's committee cannot be responsible for ensuring this! If you are in any doubt, or have never gone away camping for a weekend before, then have a look at the kit list and come along to the pub on Wednesday to have a chat with us: we will always be more than happy to help you out! Also, please bear in mind that climbing involves a lot of sitting around outdoors; you'll be colder than you would be while walking, so hats, gloves and fleeces are always useful.

Meet Fees

The cost of meets is dependent on location (see below). All meets are subsidised by the Club, but we must still charge a meet fee to help cover the cost of transport and accommodation. Please bring your money to the pub for the sign-up and give it to the Treasurer or Meets Sec when you add your name to the meet list. Alternatively, you can pay by bank transfer - ask the Treasurer or Meets Sec for details. Your place on the meet is not guaranteed until you have paid!